Leopard dies due to ‘negligence’ of forest staff

TINSUKIA, July 21: A full-grown female leopard died due to utter negligence of Doomdooma Forest Division at Itavata Line under Bordubi Tea Estate on Friday afternoon.

According to reports, the forest departments laid a trap on Thursday after she created terror by killing few livestock in the garden area. On Friday morning, the locals, after seeing the leopard being caged, informed the Forest department. The forest officials reached the spot early but allegedly left the caged animal for several hours under the scorching sun before she was transported to a nearby veterinary clinic at Rupai. In the clinic she was declared brought dead while the locals said the leopard was perfectly healthy till morning.

Environmentalists have demanded punishment and departmental proceedings against the guilty forest officials even as forest higher-ups are allegedly trying to shield the guilty forest staff, said sources.